After hearing feedback from neighbors during a Zoning Board public hearing on Tuesday,  the developer of a proposed 16-unit open space development on Town Farm Road in Jaffrey requested the application be tabled, so that some of the points made Tuesday could be addressed.

Anthony Costello, the owner of A.C. Engineering, presented the plan on behalf of Fougere Homes LLC, proposing 16 units on 24 acres at 79 Town Farm Road. Costello explained that using the town’s density calculator, including bonus density allowances, by right Fougere Homes would be allowed up to six units on the just-under 17 acres that qualify as able to be built on, with some of the lot taken up by wetlands and steep slopes.

Costello said that in conversations with the town’s building and planning department about a six-unit development, he was asked about whether any of the homes would be considered affordable or workforce housing, and through that, became aware that was a need in town. Each unit would include a single-car garage with driveway parking for an additional car, and 10 overflow or guest spots.

Instead of the six large lots with single-family homes that were initially planned, Fougere Homes submitted a concept for clustered condos, which would take up about as much of the lot as the single, set-back buildings currently on the property. They would use less space, and be offered at a lower price.

“We’re mostly here to provide a project that the town needs and wants,” Costello said.

Costello said should the town not grant the variance allowing the greater density, developers would return to their original plan of six single-family homes. He said the 16-unit version was based on a previously approved development on Squantum Road, though he clarified that he was aware that approval did not set a legal precedent, merely using it as an example.

Though Costello clarified that the plan was still conceptual at that point, to show how such a layout might work, the plan showed six buildings – two which would house four units, and four which would be two units.

Abutters and near-neighbors to the project raised multiple issues, with water quality, traffic flow, and the character of the neighborhood being chief among their concerns.

Abutter Ray Turgeon said the road is a “raceway” already, and that adding any amount of traffic would be a detriment, and that 16 additional houses would be a tax on the water resources.

Dylan Baer said he also shared concerns about the water table, noting his own well charges so slowly that his household has to take conservation efforts. He also said the development was out of character for the rural road.

“The reason I moved to Jaffrey was to be in a rural area,” Baer said.

Neighbor Cathy Proulx agreed, saying, “It’s a rural part of town, and we want to keep it that way.”

Neighbor Eric Sopper agreed, saying that he also had moved to Jaffrey because of its beautiful rural nature, and said that a large development on Town Farm Road was “ludicrous.”

“Six would be a lot. Sixteen is way too much,” Sopper said.

When asked about what price the homes could be sold for, Fougere said new construction is now typically being sold at $400,000 on the low end, though he noted that was the price for a single-family home, not condos. He said if he were building six single-family homes, they would likely end up costing in the range of $700,000 or more.

Several members of the audience pointed out that $400,000 was still out of the reach of most young families or elderly people looking to downsize, demographics Fougere said he was hoping to help provide housing for. Fougere agreed, but said the cost of materials and labor currently don’t allow for the price to be much lower than that.

After hearing from neighbors, all of whom spoke during the section reserved for opposition, Costello asked the board if the applicant could request the deliberation of the the application be tabled, with the intent to return to the next meeting with either revisions or additional information to address concerns heard on Tuesday.

Following Costello’s request, the board agreed unanimously to continue the hearing until June 4 at 6 p.m. at the town offices.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext.  244 or asaari@ledgertranscrip  t.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.